There have been some misunderstandings by some people about the relationship between a comprehensive 2011/2013 project list developed by the Utah Division of Water Resources and projections made during the Prepare60 effort. We would like to clarify some items to reduce misunderstandings.
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The DWRe $20 Billion project list was not created for the purpose of Prepare60 projections. It was initially a completely separate effort.
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Projects on the $20 billion list were submitted via a survey at the request of Division of Water Quality, Division of Drinking Water and Division of Water Resources. The surveys were voluntary; many agencies didn’t respond; those that did had varying cost estimates/calculation methods that weren’t uniform.
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The $20 Billion list was never intended to be a list of projects needing state funding. It was a point-in-time list to get a general idea about water infrastructure needs within the state. It was created in 2011 and last updated in 2013.
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The $20 Billion list included culinary, wastewater, stormwater and agricultural needs.
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DWRe and other entities funded some of the projects on the list. This should not come as a surprise considering it was last updated in 2013.
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Prepare60 used some, but not all, of the M&I projects within the DWRe list in order to make their projections.
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The Prepare60 projections only include municipal and industrial needs.
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Prepare60’s report includes estimated infrastructure needs for all levels of agencies including cities, counties, districts and the state.
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Prepare60 does not suggest or imply that the Division of Water Resources or State would fund the estimated $33 billion in project costs; the various projects will have differing funding source options.
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All efforts to prepare a list of needed statewide water infrastructure projects with an accompanying cost will change over time as projects are funded and completed, and as new needed projects emerge; changes should be expected.
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A copy of the Prepare60 report and Statewide Water Infrastructure Plan, is available on prepare60.com.
